Coronavirus Resources for California Tourism Industry

Congress approved the $2.2 trillion CARES Act to provide relief for businesses and employees hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. In addition, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and California state government have taken immediate action help small businesses defer some sales tax payments and get loans.

Here are brief descriptions of the main components of state and federal programs, with links to more detailed documents provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the U.S. Travel Association, and the California Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

Economic Development Administration Grants Available grant funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce asks applicants to explain how their project would "prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus" or respond to "economic injury as a result of coronavirus.” The grant specifically includes travel and tourism marketing campaigns. Eligibility: Applicants include a variety of government organizations and any “public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State.” For profit companies are ineligible. Read morein the EDA official Notice of Funding Opportunity or the EDA’s FAQ.

Coronavirus Economic Injury Disaster Loans/Grants
This program allows small businesses to borrow up to $2 million with a maximum 4 percent interest to make payroll or most operating expenses. Loan applicants will get $10,000 within three days, and can keep the money even if the loan is denied.Eligibility: Self-employed businesses with fewer than 500 employees (and those with more if they meet these SBA standards) and all non-profits.Read more from Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Page 7) or U.S. Travel.

Business Interruption Loans (Paycheck Protection)
This gives 100 percent guaranteed loans of up to $10 million at maximum 4 percent interest to cover payroll, rent, mortgage, utilities and other costs of doing business. Loans may be forgiven if a business has the same number of employees on June 30 that it did prior to the crisis. Eligibility: Self-employed, businesses with 500 or fewer employees, with some exceptions, some non-profits.Read more from U.S. Travel and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

SBA Express LoansRaises the limit for express loans from $350,000 to $1 million through 2020. Interest is capped at 9.5 percent for loans more than $50,000. Eligibility: Small businesses with 500 or fewer employees or $7 million or less in annual receipts. Must have been in business for at least two years. Non-profits and marketing organizations are ineligible.Read more from U.S. Travel.

Business Tax ReliefSeveral tax provisions will help small businesses, including:

- Net operating losses from 2018, 2019 and 2020 can be carried back for five years.
- Employers can defer all of their Social Security payroll taxes for 2020, repaying half by the end of 2021 and the other half by the end of 2022.
- Employers, including non-profits, whose operations have been disrupted by government orders limiting group travel and meetings or whose quarterly receipts are half what they were year over year are eligible for tax credits for 50 percent of wages paid to certain employees.Read more U.S. Travel and Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Page 11).

Emergency Stabilization FundNearly half a trillion dollars was allocated to the U.S. Treasury Department to develop loan programs through the Federal Reserve to benefit an array of impacted businesses. Those programs will emerge in the coming weeks. Broad categories of programs include:

Eligibility: All U.S. businesses, non-profits, states, local governments, including DMOs, although Treasury and the federal Reserve can determine further eligibility.Read more from U.S Travel

California Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Program
This provides access to loans for small businesses otherwise unable to qualify for federal disaster relief programs. The money can be used for rent, payroll and other costs of doing business. The state’s guarantee can last up to seven years, and interest is negotiated with private lenders.Eligibility: Businesses with fewer than 750 employees and some non-profits.Read more from the Small Business Resource Center.

California Tax Relief
- Small businesses with less than $5 million in taxable sales can defer up to $50,000 in sales taxes, interest free, for up to 12 months.
- Businesses that owe less than $1 million in state income taxes can defer filing and payment for up to 90 days, July 15.